Canadian Challenge; Jennifer Campeau

Jennifer Campeau from Atka Kennel out of Rocky Mountain House.

If any part of that sentence sounds familiar,  it could be because Jennifers' husband, Jason, has run the Challenge coming in 3rd place in 2014.  Or it could be the fact he ran the Iditarod twice and as I write this is running his second Yukon Quest...BUT.... It shouldn't be the reason that the name sounds familiar.  

It should be because Jennifer won the open class at the Canadian Challenge in 2014 and it should be because she won the 2014 Eagle Cap Extreme Pot race   It should also be because she qualified in two races last year at the Eagle Cap Extreme and Race to the Sky.  

OR How about that this year she will be using this race to Qualify in order to run either the Iditarod or the Yukon Quest with her husband next year.

6 years ago Jennifer and her family moved from Ontario to Alberta making the decision to live on an acreage.  It had been Jason's boyhood dream to own and run sled dogs and now that they lived in a location to allow this he bought a few dogs for the family to enjoy.    This however (and maybe it was his plan all along) hooked the entire family and they ended up with enough dogs for both Jason and Jennifer to each run their own team.

Jennifer is back using the Challenge as her final qualifier as she really enjoyed her last experience here saying it was a really well run race and the hospitality was great at all the check points.

10 of her 12 dogs are between 1 and 2 years old.  All Rookies to the Canadian Challenge and in fact running their second race in their first year of racing.   It is all about learning and growing for the pups as Jennifer shared with me the experience of the first check stop in which all the dogs stood the entire time, tails wagging with a wondering look at 'Mom' as if to say, "what's going on, what are you up to?"

By the time they hit the second check stop they quickly figured things out and settled down to rest.  Jennifer is quite excited about this young team, especially her new young leader Easton.  At 2 years of age he is fast and knows all of his commands.

Jennifer will not be alone in this race as her twin daughters will be coming along, the perfect cheering squad.   Knowing family is waiting at each check stop (even if it can only be to share a smile when you are qualifying) makes each run have a sweet purpose.

Photo Credit; Jennifers Facebook Profile

Canadian Challenge; Jackie Wepruk

So far I have been speaking to the mushers and frantically scribbling notes as they share their stories with me. I've also had a few e-mails where the questions I asked were laid out perfectly so that I could easily us my passion for writing and playing with words... However what I received from Jackie at Tucoldturain Kennels was so perfect that I didn't have the heart to re-do it.   

I may have moved a paragraph or two, but in Jackie's own words, here is her story.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.

It’s hard to set a date as to when I started dog sledding.

It started rather innocuously with Rick and me running our SPCA graduate, a purebred Siberian, and a rescue Siberian within the city limits of Calgary.

Rick and I laugh now at our first attempts. This would have been in the late 1990's – we were SO novice.

 My original passion with the dogs was obedience training and trialing. When I was looking for my next obedience Siberian (my first being from conformation show lines), I decided that working lines would yield a better work ethic regardless of the work involved. At that time Karen Ramstead was training for her first Iditarod and I decided that she had the ethics I was looking for in a breeder.

We visited her kennel and she gave us each our own six-dog team to run for a short fun run. Rick was hooked and things moved quickly.

We soon had an acreage (our current location) and were building our own team.

 Hugi, we called him the "Hu-man," was the dog that started it all for us.  He taught us so much, he died at 16 years, 3 months of age, a year last November.

 He finished his last distance race at 10 ½ years old and led my 4-dog sprint team at 11 ½, never placing less than 2nd place in the purebred class. We miss him every day.

There are so many special dogs that it is hard to point out just a few. Diesel, who just retired is a dog who we say “walks on water.” He’s 13 now and I wish he could live forever. He just retired this year and I now do cani-cross with him (he pulls me off my feet at times). When he ran lead it was like having power steering. He is also a wonderful companion with a fantastic temperament. Currently, our key leaders are both girls, Jolt and Isis. Jolt is Mom to Trinity, an up and coming leader. We hope to have a litter from Isis this year. She is a total love-bug and a very responsive leader. It’s not possible to detail the relationship we have we each of our dogs, but each is loved for being the individual that they are – even if some are a bit quirky!

We’re perhaps a little unusual in the sled dog world in that when we breed a litter we tend to keep and race everyone. We rarely have dogs to place in homes and we strive to bring out the best in each of our dogs. This means accepting that this may not translate to race wins or even placings, particularly in distance races where Alaskans rule and we are firmly loyal to our Siberians. That’s totally OK and in some ways takes the pressure off. No one expects much of us!

The racing was supposed to be Rick’s thing with me being handler. Things changed in 2010 when Rick’s back, which had always given him trouble, debilitated him 2 hours before our first race of the season. Rather than scratch, we substituted mushers. I ran a 12 dog team on the sled for the first time and screamed for the first two miles with my feet frozen to the brake. That was the beginning of me becoming “the musher.”

I love a lot of things about running dogs. I love how they open up a world that so few humans can experience; one where it’s just you and your dogs, in the middle of nowhere, working in unison. I love what they’ve taught me about what is really important for the welfare of all animals – a purpose. Also that one cannot have good wellbeing without challenges to that wellbeing that one must overcome. We all become stronger, fitter, healthier, and better for having strived for a purpose that requires effort and some risk. The challenge is always to mitigate the risks, but without risk, there is no life worth living.

 I also love that when the dogs and I are “out there” that the balance of power shifts. We truly become equals. In every aspect of any companion animal’s life, it is the human that is in control. When they eat, what they eat, what care they receive, etc. On the trail, sled dogs and humans are equals with the human dependent upon his/her dogs and the dogs dependent on the musher. It is the one situation in a dog’s life where they truly are equals in all respects with their person, and I think they know it!

We’re back at Challenge this year because we did not want to miss the 20 year anniversary of the race. This is my 3rd time racing at Challenge. Rick has been the musher twice before that at Challenge. We’ve switched roles with Rick now being the handler. He is the best handler too! This is truly a team effort where all successes are shared and we work through the challenges together. 

Taking a break from distance at a sprint race in Didsbury

Photo Credit: Mike Forhan

Canadian Challenge: Remy Léduc

I must say I am most uncomfortable talking on a phone, and lately have had to pull myself way out of my comfort zone.  However, I've enjoyed speaking to those who have a passion for a sport I wish I was more involved in myself.

Remy Léduc is no exception and was the first musher to ask me to phone, and for good reason.  His first language is French and talking to me rather than writing was way easier, and if I'm to be honest, was much more interesting and fun to boot.

Remy is the musher who will be traveling the furthest to attend the race.  He lives with his wife and little girl in Glenwood New Brunswick and for those who have never heard of Glenwood (according to Remy it has a population of 6, so I doubt many have) it is near Saint John.

His Kennel, Chenil Akkada Kennel, is home to 33 dogs most of which are Alaskan Huskies, and from what I could tell, it sounded like the boss and mascot is a little Butterfly  (Spaniel) by the name of Maggie.

When asked if he had a favorite dog, a dog that stood out, he couldn't pin it down to just one.  He said he liked and worshiped all his leaders, commenting that a very good leader is hard to come by and then proudly stating, he had quite a few.  He told me that all of his dogs have great personalities, were happy all of the time and he loved them all.  He wouldn't pick just one.

This will be Remy's first time running the Canadian Challenge, entered in the 12 dog, he is hoping to use this as a qualifying race for the 2019 Yukon Quest.  His goal for this race when asked, was to make sure his team got safely to the finish line.

No stranger to mid-distance racing he has run the Can-Am Crown 250, 4 times and the Odyssée Appalachienne 100.

Remy has been involved with dog sledding for 10 years now.  His first dog is his blame for getting into this crazy sport.  He would harness the dog who would then pull him on rollerblades. 

However the defining moment was the time he worked in a stable and was spotted in a field being pulled on a sled with his single dog.  Seeing his passion, he was directed to a local sprint racer who needed help.   Loving the experience and doing well he was asked the following winter if he would help again.   Looking ahead he knew he would love to continue working with dogs but couldn't afford to do so by volunteering, instead, he found a job as a guide with a dog sled touring company.

It was here that he was not only fully hooked but also met his wife. 

33 dogs, 10 years later, he finds himself now dreaming and working toward the 2019 Yukon Quest.

Remy and friend 

Photo Credit: from Remys' Facebook page

Canadian Challenge: Jim Tomkins

It is time to introduce the mushers!

I know many who have been waiting for me to begin this part of the blog and although there is still so much information to share on the workings of the race I decided that those who RUN the race are going to come first.

HOWEVER that said I do want to focus first on a musher from the past.

I received a call tonight that was such a pleasure to take that it left me smiling long after it concluded.  It was from a musher who won the 1999 and 2001 (at the time 10 dog) Canadian Challenge, Jim Tomkins.

Jim, his wife Elaine, and Frank Brooks were the three mushers who dreamed up and started the Canadian Challenge.  Their idea was to have a poor mans Iditarod that didn't cost an arm and a leg to achieve.

Originally it was based on a race out of Alaska in which they would run one way,  turn around and come back again all along the same route.  

The Canadian Challenge would start in Prince Albert, race to La Ronge, and then re-start to race back to Prince Albert for the finish.  Most of the race was run in the ditch along the side of the HI way.   Not always a favorite of the mushers who enjoyed the solitude within the trees, but a fantastic event for spectators who could follow along.

That first race, Elaine had contacts that led her to their first big sponsor, Cameco who offered $20 000 that inaugural year.   We can proudly say that Cameco continues to be a big sponsor to this day.

I asked Jim to share a memory from his time running the Canadian Challenge.

His 2nd win in 2001 was his most memorable as it was to be his last race and he had put everything he had into winning.  

In fact he said he knew he was going to win it back in July. 

One particular memory was at a check point 25 miles south of Weyakwin.  It was colder than 40 below and quite windy.  He says he went to warm up and it was his wife, his coach, who had to kick him out reminding him that he had to win the race.  I'm pretty sure he was smiling as he told me this story.

Jim shared with me some incredible words of wisdom, the same ones he would share with all young up and coming mushers,   "Make a place for that trophy on your shelf, then go for it."  

Jim's belief is that attitude is everything. 

Know you are going to win, own it, and not just for racing but in life itself.

Jim and Elaine Tomkins, Photo Credit: Star Phoenix 

Canadian Challenge; It's a Dog Sled Race

When I finally decided to do this blog and make my way East to Saskatchewan to follow this race I was struck by the challenge I had given myself.

To make the posts read worthy and interesting I would need to learn more about the mushers who would be carving out the trails with their teams, and to educate readers who perhaps have no idea what is involved in such a race or dog sledding at all.

According to the International Federation of Sled Dog Sports dog sledding in North America and Siberia originated 4,000 years ago.

Of course it would have only been used as a means for transportation to trade, hunt, fish and monitor trap lines.   When communities and outposts began to grow this means of transportation would have been used to deliver supplies , mail and news into the Northern Canadian Wilderness.

Mail Run 1911, Photo Credit: Smithsonian

In the late 19th century sled dogs were trained to respond to two voice cues, the traditional French 'Marche,' which was mistakenly pronounced mush, to get a team started and 'whoa' to tell the team to stop.  It wasn't until the last decade of the 19th century when William Miller of the Hudsons Bay Company trained the first team of Eskimo Dogs to respond to turn right (gee) and left (haw)

The first documented sled dog race was in 1850 from Winnipeg, Manitoba to St. Paul, Minnesota.  Disney shone a light on the 1917 version of this race in "Iron Will" in which Alberta Campbell, a Metis from Pas, Manitoba won the race.

I suppose the most well known distance race, The Iditarod, which covers 1,000 miles from Anchorage to Nome was born out of the memory of the great race to get serum over 600 miles to Nome via dog sled when an outbreak of Diphtheria threatened the community in 1925.

Leonhard Seppala with his dogs 1925

Photo Credit; ESPN.com

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Canadian Challenge with a terrific line up of mushers entered. 19 teams registered in three categories, a 70 mile 6 dog open, a 200 mile 8 dog class and the drawing card , the 12 dog 350 mile class. 

There seems to be a decline in mid-distance mushers as of late, and from those that I have spoken to it is more about the passion and love of being with their dogs that keeps them coming back for more than any financial gain.   As the cost of running a dog sled kennel and attending races rise, competitive mid-distance races are slowly disappearing as the purse and sponsors dwindle.

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to this years sponsors, your help enables races such as this one to continue year after year.   

Sponsors and Volunteers are the main nervous system of the race, you help keep it alive and running smoothly.  The beating heart, I feel, is the mushers and dogs themselves, because without their attendance it wouldn't be much of a race.

And now, without further ado it is time to introduce the mushers to you all...... 

Team Rick Wannamaker in 2015

Photo Credit: Jim Williams

Canadian Challenge: February is Here!

February is here.

A month deep into winter.

Winter, a season for me full of adventure.

Two years ago I attended the Canadian Challenge Dog Sled Race that runs 600 km or 350 miles as a dog handler for Randy Mackenzie.  

It was quite the adventure and for those who didn't follow the 2015 race you'll have to ask us about it one day.  Instead, for now, I want to focus on this years race.

2017 marks the 20th anniversary of a race that follows a route not unlike the ones that trappers, the Northwest Mounted Police or the First Nations communities would have traveled between Prince Albert and La Ronge.

The Canadian Challenge has been recognized as a world class-sporting event being the longest race that starts, runs, and finishes in Canada and is a qualifying race toward the Yukon Quest and Iditarod.   It is not an easy race, full of challenges, and continues to bring back mushers year after year.  Teams from all across Canada, the United States, Australia, Germany, Serbia and Belgium have come to participate over the years. 

As the countdown begins to the official start date of February 21st I find myself without a team to work for.  Not wanting to miss out on the fun, adventure, the cold and even lack of sleep I have made up my mind to follow along in order to keep a photo and written journal of this amazing event.

I have been lucky enough to have had the experience of tasting a little of what has drawn men and women to want to drive a team of dogs into the wild for many miles.  Rick Wannamaker has given me the gift of opportunity helping run his dogs during training, and I've learned so much and have grown to love the idea of mid-distance racing.

I have been asked "Why?" many times.

Why would anyone want to run a races such as this?

It is the connection that one makes with themselves, the land and more importantly between the musher and their dogs.  We all know that dogs love unconditionally, but I believe a musher loves their dogs back just as much.  The bond and trust runs deep between human and dogs on a team, and it shows.  What could be a better adventure than being out in the wild with only your best friends?

I have been speaking with many of the mushers and will give them a voice here, on this blog, so that you may see their own reasons as to why.  Each story is different and I will share with you something about each.  Some of the mushers I call good friends, few I meet once or twice a year through the dogs, and still others I shall call friend when we finally are able to meet in person for the first time.

I hope that you will join me as we gear up to head onward to Saskatchewan in just over 2 weeks.   Teams are scrambling to get in those last few runs as they prepare themselves and their super athletes. 

Many volunteers are working long hours putting in trails, gathering up sponsorships and doing all those little and big jobs that no one sees or thinks of when it comes to putting on such a large event.

Those are also the stories I hope to share here as well.

My own excitement builds, especially after speaking to Remy Leduc the musher who will be traveling the furthest to join us.  That however shall wait for the next post.

February is finally here.

A month deep into winter.

A month that calls us to Saskatchewan and the Canadian Challenge.

Photo Credit: Jim Williams

Then I Blinked

.... and in that blink everything changed.

Nothing will ever be the same.

My Mamma drives me crazy sometimes, like all Moms before her and those to come, she needs to know everything going on.  Always filled with advice and worried all the time.
Must be a 'mom thing'

Busy bee is my mother... once actually referred to as a drunk bumble bee.
When in the midst of people and at a function that she is a part of she will flit from person to person making sure everything is just right and that everyone is happy and taken care of.

Theater is her passion and she always wants us to come to every show she is involved in.  Us kids would sigh and go to shows with people on stage that we didn't even know all because she was the back stage manager, or she made some props.
We once told her that we would come to the shows but she had to have either directed it or be in it for us to attend.  So she had to find other ways to bring us in, like put her dog, Teddy, in a role on the stage.

As I have grown and had a family of my own I grew closer to my mom as more of a friend than a mother.  Although her worrying and fussing will always make her my mom.
She is the first one I call up when I have news to share be it good or bad.
Although I'm afraid that driving in to see my parents was low on my list of priorities as I love just hanging at home with my dogs and found the hour drive in to be a pain in my butt and brought the laziness out in me.  I preferred to talk on the phone or chat via the computer.

Just coming back from a big trip to China visiting our baby girl I couldn't wait to share my experiences and stories with mom and it was 4 sleeps until we could finally get together.
When she left here I was worried about her and the pain she was in, watching her leave, my sister and I commented to each other how we wished she would just go to a Dr and get her back looked at.

Then I blinked.

.... and in that blink everything changed.

                                                      I love you Mom, always and forever.